Amongst the golfing fraternity, the country of Portugal, and specifically the Algarve, is synonymous with the game of golf.
Some clever fellow, back in the 50’s or 60’s, correctly identified a potential future market for golf resorts in southern Portugal, when the golfing folk of northern Europe were playing winter greens and preferred lies in near darkness.
Portugal developed luxury hotels with big name signature golf courses and hosted European Tour events. The Algarve promoted itself so skilfully that it probably holds the crown as the most popular winter golfing destination.
By the time of the millennium, Portugal had 50 golf courses. Credit must go to the late Sir Henry Cotton, a three-time Open champion, who designed a number of courses, notably Penina. He tirelessly promoted golf in the Algarve for many years. He could often be seen holding court on the practice tee, telling all and sundry that their hands were too weak to play the game well.
Above all, the Algarve understands the needs of touring golfers, rightfully catering to the mid to high end of the golfing market, and making life easy for them. A balmy climate, comfortable luxury accommodation, great courses, a healthy choice of quality cuisine and proximity to all these facilities constitute a winning formula. Efficient transfers are also important from hotels to courses. Who wants to drive?
The Dom Pedro golf courses and hotels are major players in the Algarve. Recently acquired by Details, the American owned operating company, a refurbishment program has begun. In an ever more competitive market, hotels naturally need constant upgrading, but golf courses do, too.
One factor in this need for upgrading is the volume of play, given that on a busy day, up to two hundred golfers may make their way around each of the Dom Pedro courses. Golf must also adapt to environmental concerns and the perennial demand for water, so the market continues to evolve and adapt.
In conversation, the Head Superintendent in charge of all five courses revealed that there are an average of fifteen greenskeepers per course, which is a significant and generous number. The excellent condition of all of the courses reflects this commitment to quality.
Dom Pedro Pinhal 14th Hole
Our first taste of golf in the Algarve commenced on a fine sunny day, pitting our wits against the Dom Pedro Pinhal course. The Golf Architect Frank Pennick laid out the course in 1976, and it was later remodelled by Robert Trent Jones in 1985. Umbrella Pines abound, often lining both sides of the gently undulating fairways.
We adore these beautiful trees, their long winding trunks topped with a dense evergreen umbrella-shaped canopy. They are very cleverly utilised, often dictating the strategy of how a hole must be played.
We saw two balls completely gobbled up in the canopies. Forget the “trees are 90% air” nonsense. When you do get amongst them, and you will, you will need to have refined your low, chasing iron shot, and you will have to be able to play it from a bed of pine needles.
Played from the member’s tees, at 6600 yards, this course is a genuine, strategic test of golf. Full of old-school charm, what will challenge you is the size of the greens. They are a little on the small side. The tenth green takes the biscuit as the narrowest green we have ever played, at ten yards max. Admittedly, the green is some 25 yards long, but it is guarded on the right by a bunker, and if you miss the green left, a steep slope awaits. We played a lot of golfing ping pong from side to side.
Dom Pedro 5th Hole
The condition of the course was first class. Interestingly, of the five courses at Vilamoura, Pinhal is the only one played entirely upon Bermuda grass. This makes for an almost bristly fairway, where the ball stands to attention. The greens were uniformly quick. One factor behind seeding the course with Bermuda grass is that it requires less water – 50% less than the other courses.
Dom Pedro Pinhal got a big vote from us in all respects. A child of the 70’s, when few courses were being constructed, it exudes character and class. The rack rate green fee for Dom Pedro Pinhal is 120 euros, although less as part of a package. Well worth it.
Dom Pedro Old Course 6th Hole
The Dom Pedro Old Course at Vilamoura is fondly referred to as the Grand Dame of Algarve. Also designed by Frank Pennick in 1969, and later remodelled by Martin Hawtree in 1996, it’s an elder sister to Dom Pedro Pinhal. We played the course off the members tees at 6400 yards. Built on gently rolling terrain, it also winds its way through impressive Umbrella Pines.
The greens are larger, with significantly bigger bunkers. The Dom Pedro Old Course is rated higher than Pinhal, although it’s a close call. The fitting of satnav screens to the buggies definitely adds to the golfing experience, plus the shining pyramids of courtesy balls on the range make you feel valued.
Dome Pedro Old Course 1st Hole
Of all the holes in the Algarve, the first on the Old will stay with you. The downhill, short par four is played through a narrow corridor of magnificent pines. The perfect entree to a great day’s golf. The clubhouse is also worthy of mention. A simple, single storey structure, complete with wrap around covered veranda, it resembles a Plantation house of the early 1900s. It retains all of its old school charm. We hope it never changes.
Dom Pedro Old Course
Our only beef with the Dom Pedro Old Course is the practice putting green. It far exceeded our skill levels, leaving us feeling wholly humiliated. The gradient is so severe, from top to bottom, that when you arrive at the first green, you will not know up from down. Take a chair on the terrace, cold drink in hand, and revel in other golfers’ pain. You have been warned.
You will be charged 150 euros, rack rate, for the pleasure of playing the Old Course, and it is a pleasure.
Next, we visited the Dom Pedro Laguna and Dom Pedro Millennium courses, where we were able to play nine holes on each. Both courses are served by the same clubhouse. The rack rate green fee for each course is 120 euros.
Dome Pedro Millenium 13th Hole
The Dom Pedro Laguna and Dom Pedro Millennium offer up a more forgiving challenge than their older counterparts. The setup of both courses, with wide fairways and generous allowances, will considerably improve your score.
The term “Resort course” can sound derogatory, summing up an image of blandness, but both the Laguna and Millennium courses have plenty to offer. Holes 14 and 15 on the Laguna course will stick in the memory, as a touch of heroism is required in order to avoid a watery grave. But in general they will build your confidence, rather than undermine it.
Dome Pedro Laguna
And what of Dom Pedro Victoria, in many ways the flagship course of Dom Pedro? In truth, we cannot reveal what Details have planned, other than to say it will be an Algarvian sensation. All will be revealed later in the year. Details is committed to upgrading, renovating and repositioning both the Dom Pedro Hotels and Golf Collection, and its commitment is reflected in this forthcoming project. The Grande dame of Algarve, together with her sisters, are all in for a champagne treat.